Dear Flynnmates, for some actresses filming with Errol Flynn equals a life insurance.
Maureen O`Hara lived for 95 years, Lady Livvie even saw 104 and recently Mrs. Waltraut Haas celebrated her 94th birthday.
The co-co-star from his unfinished Will Tell epic overcame a stunt-worthy fall down her staircase and plans on a big party once the corona`s box is closed again.
Errol still vividly is on her mind in her new autobiography “But now I tell it…”
When he fell ill during the ill fated shoot, she cooked him chicken soup.
But when approached by King Farouk for a liaison in exchange for funding the film, she left the post production scene in a hurry.
She has no regrets of not making it to Hollywood (“I wouldn`t have wanted my nose shortened, anyway”), since she had a fabulous career in Europe starring alongside local greats Peter Alexander, Jopi Heesters and Curd Juergens.
I raise a glass of apple wine to her.
Enjoy,
— shangheinz
Thank-you Heinz for sharing this terrific news on a great actress and beautiful lady.
Very welcome, Rushstreet Ralph.She still appears on stage, since her son is an actor and a theatre producer, too.
Still beautiful, too!
Yes, Witty Dave, despite the advanced age, she still looks pretty much herself…
I don’t recall Errol being sick during William Tell.
Errol disliked Farouk. Farouk approached Mahon with promise of millions. I doubt he saw a penny. I also didn’t ear of Farouk being invested in William tell.
Do you have info on him being sick? He was sick in Crossed Sword.
I don’t see why farouk would have want to sleep with her to give funds. If he had funds and he didn’t give them to Errol and Mahon then…nasty man. Cause I dont think a penny came from him. He was actually broke. She was a nobody on the set….to me it makes zero sense
Thanks for this wonderful story Heinz. So why some bad comments about her from some members. Errol made the chooise to cast her, so why badmouth this beautiful lady.
Waltraut Haas was perfectly cast by Errol Flynn and Jack Cardiff as the Swiss beauty who appeals to William Tell’s patriotism. Based on the footage I saw, she is giving a magnificent performance. in “The Story Of William Tell” which makes this unfinished adventure classic all the more tragic. King Farouk was indeed a parasite who was never missed by the people of Egypt when he was toppled from his throne by Col. Nasser, but he would seduce the gorgeous Ms. Haat in a heartbeat if he could! He was worse than Benny Hill!
When I sat bedside with Baron Eddie in Vaduz, the baron would tell me this about Farouk. The Pharaonean phat cat made the rounds at the European aristocrazy and one day stood at the counter of Eddie‘s shop selling cookoo‘s watches- Eduard von Fein- Falz made his millions with souvenirs, you know. The went to dinner and while one usually orders chicken breast or chicken wings, F. ordered “Chicken!“ and ate the whole bird … www.theerrolflynnblog.com…
Heinz, We have seen photos of King Farouk and he was a very corpulent man who denied himself nothing in food, drink , or women!
Ralph, Baron Ed with all of his 103 years of human experience wasn‘t keen of Flynn, but he was totally opposed to Faruk. In fact he called him The Perv, who “…payed girls to engage with each other“.
Thanks for this wonderful story Heinz. So why some bad comments about her from some members. Errol made the chooise to cast her, so why badmouth this beautiful lady. This is a nasty accusation . Who are we to say that she was a nobody
Thank you for your kind comment, Mrs. Debbie Debonair. Waltraut Haas encountered Errol one more time years later at the Biennale film festival. But he was so caught up in his act of super guest star, they didn‘t get to catch up. I always thought she would have been a good choice for Flynn‘s later films Istambul and Big Boodle.
HELLO Heinz, what a great post about a wonderful actress. She had a great career in Europe before and after William Tell.
Errol made a lot of bad decisions which cause the failure of Tell. He wasn’t a producer, he was an actor. He hired the right director and DP he should have hired a real producer.
When the film failed, Errol went out there and was begging for completion money from every jet setter he knew, including Farouk who was a friend of his. It wouldn’t surprise me if Farouk wanted to sleep with the leading lady for the promise of money. Farouk was very wealthy and he would sleep with everyone, including a snake it it had a dress.
Waltraut Haas is a great lady and should get the respect from all of us. Keep your posts going they’re full if information and I always enjoy reading your post. As I did Gentlemen Tim’s.
And for me it‘s always great to hear back from Sockless Jack. I am currently in Courmayeur where exactly 68 years ago Will Tell was made, but not finished. Tonight Italy‘s soccer squad has high hopes in their semi final match at the European Cup, so this is the place to be!
Errol is one if not the most documented (newspaper articles, books, anecdotes etc.) film stars of his era. First hand Information for the obvious reason is scarse, so I take everything Mrs. Haas says for face value.
Farouk was a leech in the size of the Hindenburg blimp. His last girl friend was a young Italian girl who wanted to become an opera singer. That didn‘t happen either.
There were two professional producers attached to Tell. One was called Waschawski. Je had a resumé in film and then there was a certain Vilisied, who worked with Flynn at Crossed Swords, but he is a complete dark horse…